United Democratic Movement leader Bantu Holomisa also said the suggestion was not accurate.

He believed that if the DA were to resign from Parliament, the remaining seats would be split between the rest of the parties according to the proportional representation system.

'Constitution quite clear'

Director of the Centre for Constitutional Rights, Phephelaphi Dube said the Constitution states plainly what is required to dissolve Parliament in section 50.

"The Constitution is quite clear on when and how Parliament is dissolved. It can only be dissolved by a vote, and that vote needs to pass [with majority]."

Three years would also have needed to have passed since the Assembly was elected.

The other scenario is if in the event a vacancy arises in the presidency, and no new president is elected by the National Assembly within 30 days, the courts would then intervene to ensure early elections are called.

Dube said Parliament can still function with less than 350 members, but the ability to pass bills and legislation, especially ones that need a two-thirds majority, would be compromised.

She said Speaker of Parliament Baleka Mbete on Tuesday, made it clear that the thresholds required for voting purposes were linked to the number of seats in Parliament, not individual members.

Dube said the suggestion for MPs to resign was unprecedented and the law had not been tested in reality.

Individual members of Parliament who resign can be replaced, but if entire parties resign, they could be forfeiting their seats in Parliament until the next general elections, according to the Electoral Act.

EFF national spokesperson Mbuyiseni Ndlozi could not be reached for comment by News24 via phone or text message.

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